Hair clipper attachment



Dec. 22, 1964 l. E. THEODOROU HAIR CLIPPER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1 1963 INVENTOR.

IGNATIUS E. THEODOROU ATTORNEY Dec- 22, 1 6 l. E. THEODOROU 3,161,953

HAIR CLIPPER ATTACHMENT Filed April 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lrllllllllllllllllnfll INVENTOR.

IGNATIUS E. TH EODOROU fm yf ATTO R N EY United States Patent 3,161,953 HAIR CLH EER ATTACHMENT Ignatius E. Theodor-on, 183 Warren Sh, Water-town, Mass. Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,332 7 Ciairns. (Ci. 30202) The present invention relates generally to hair clippers and more particularly to an improvement in such apparatus for use in trimming and bevelling the hair in certain regions of the head such as the back and sides.

The practice of hair cutting performed by layman has increased in modern times due to the increased number of children in each family with attendant economic considerations and the availability of professional type hair clippers in all stores carrying electrical appliances. The most difficult part of the operation for the inexperienced layman has proven to be the area adjacent to the back of the neck and the sides of the head. In such areas it is necessary to the attainment of professional-like results that the hair be tapered or bevelled to conform to the contour of the head. Such a cutting operation requires the placement of the clipper by the operator in close proximity to the scalp at the beginning of the operation and then gradually elevating the clipper to provide a longer cut to conform to the contour of the head. As a result of the closeness of the cut at the beginning of the tapering operation the danger of nicking and cutting exists. Further, the height of the cut may not conform to the contour of the head and result in a poorly groomed appearance of the persons head.

Various guiding devices have been suggested in the art wherein the guide is positioned on the head with one hand and the electric hair clipper is operated with the other hand. Accurate placement of such guiding devices has proven difiicult for the average layman and resulted in poor results in the hair cutting operation. The principal difiiculty lies in the configuration of such guide devices in the form of a French curve thus attempting to conform the individual head to an average shape which is wholly unrealistic. Furthermore, the requirement of placement of the guide as well as operation of the hair clipper has discouraged the average user from employing such devices.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of a new and novel attachment for hair clippers incorporating means for the guiding of such apparatus to provide a tapered or bevelled out along the neck and side regions of the head.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel hair clipper attachment incorporating guiding means which are activated by the motion of the clipper along the head of the user to conform to the contour of each individuals head.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel hair clipper attachment which is readily usable by the average layman to result in neat grooming and substantial savings to the user.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel hair clipper attachment which is readily adaptable to all professional and commercial type electric or hand clippers with the resultant elimination of prior art deficiencies in the trimming operation in the neck and side regions of the head.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention a pair of rotatable bands are disposed on opposite sides of the clipper. A plurality of laterally disposed vane members extend over a portion of the overall band with each of said vanes varying in height. At the beginning of the hair cutting cycle adiacent to the neck or sides the vane members are at minimal height. Each successive'yane is increased in height until the end of the cycle determined by the number of vanes provided in this 3,ll,%3 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 ice further feature of the present invention resides in the,

elimination of guess work and skill in the cutting of hair particularly in the case of children and eliminates any nicking or cutting due to sudden movement of the head.

Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent after consideration of the following detailed description of preferred illustrative embodiments and arrangements together with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair clipper having an illustrative embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, partly sectionalized and having a portion of the overall structure removed to reveal internal structure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the movable members of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of an illustrative arrangement for the mounting of the embodiment of the invention on a hair clipper;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a hair clipper with the attachment of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic presentation illustrative of a manner of operating a hair clipper with the embodiment of the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative arrangement embodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a side member of the attachment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of still another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawings, in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted on a hair clipper of the type commercially available indicated generally as 2. The cutting head assembly having a flat sole plate is indicated generally by the numeral 4. The attachment of the invention abuts the sole plate and is secured to the clipper. A substantially fiat body member 6 has upstanding side members 8 and lit. While the side members have been shown extending upwardly to the body member 6 the embodiment of the invention may be fabricated with similar results by having the side members extending downwardly. A pair of forwardly disposed hub members 16 and 18 are positioned within slots 20 provided in the side members. A butt type rivet may be utilized to provide the circular bearing surface to facilitate mounting of the wheels 12 and 14. The space provided between the end members 8 and 10 along the forward portion of the overall embodiment will provide for placement of the hair clipper.

Rear wheels 22 and 24 are mounted on a common axle 26 extending through hub members 28 and 30 to provide a parallel tandem relationship with the front wheels. Ball bearings may be provided for the front wheels and such an arrangement is indicated generallyby the numeral 32. A suggested arrangement to facilitate the setting of each cycle of the rotation of the wheel is shown at 34 and comprises a coil spring attachedat one end to the body m-ern- 3 ber 6 and to the other end to the axle 26. Rotation of the axle in a counter clockwise manner will result in the coiling of the spring 34 as long as the attachment is in contact with the head of the user. Upon release of the pressure engaging the head the movable portion of the attachment will return to the original starting position. Other stop arrangements may be utilized such as a pin disposed on the interior surfaces of a pair of wheels or a the segments 40 engage pockets 36 to prevent any slippage V of the bands upon rotation of the wheels. The exterior of the band is provided with a plurality of laterally disposed vanes with the all inclusive array being indicated by the numeral 43 and the first vane member indicated by the numeral 44 and the last vane member being indicated by the numeral 46. Vane 44 is dimensioned'to provide the minimal height of the cutting cycle While vane 4b is dimensioned to provide the highest cut. Each intervening vane member in the overall array varies in height to provide a uniform tapered path as the hair clipper traverses the head of the user. The vane members are fabricated of a similar material as the band members.

The method of mounting the hair clipper attachment will be indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The body member .6 is provided with a fluted channel 48 along the joining edge of the side members and the main body member. The channel 48 provides means for receiving the sole plate of the hair clipper cutting head and the attachment may simply be mounted from the rear of the overall clipper and slipped into position. Fabrication of the side and body members of a spring like metal will assure good engagement of the attachment to the clipper. The invention is by no means limited to the described method of attachment and any suitable arrangement such as spring clips or screws may be substituted.

Where desired a forwardly disposed comb may be provided to align the hairs in an upright position prior to are engagement with the cutter bar. Either a wire or a solid member with a tooth-like arrangement may be hingedly disposed on the forward section of the body member 6. The comb arrangement is indicated by the numeral 50 and may be provided with means for resiliently supporting same in order that elevation of the forward end v of the clipper will still result in the comb remaining in contact-with the hairs on the head. Upon return of the attachment to the minimal position the comb member 50' will be in a more parallel plane with the bottom of the body member 6.

Turning now to FIG. 6 the overall operation and features of the invention will be described. For purposes of clarity the specific structural features have been omitted and the starting position indicated by the letter A, intermediate position indicated by the letter B and the ending position indicated by the letter C. Forward movement of the clipper will result in counter clockwise rotation of the wheel members as indicated by the arrows. At the start of the cycle provided by the embodiment of the invention the minimal vane 44 will be the first to engage the head of the user. This will provide the cut closest to the scalp of the user in the region adjacent to the neck.

- Engagement-of successive vane members with the head results in the elevation of the clipper to provide a higher cut of the hair. In position B approximately half of the vanes have traversedthe wheel members and it may be noted that the comb arrangement as is more angularly anism mounted on the opposite side.

disposed from the bottom of the plate member 6. The final stage of the cycle (vanes 46) elevates the cutting head to the highest cutting position. Upon disengagement of the vanes from the head, the spring member 34 will return the band members to the original starting position to commence the next cutting cycle in another portion of the head or side of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The hair clipper will again be referred to by the numeral 2 and similar structure shown in the previous embodiment will be similarly numbered. In this embodiment a drive mechanism 52 activated by movement of the wheels is provided for the gradual elevation of the front cutter head 4 of the clipper 2. For illustrative purposes one such mechanism is shown mounted adjacent to the side of a clipper although it is possible to have another such mech- The mechanism 52 comprises a gear train including a gear 54 mounted on the inside of wheel 14 which in turn engages an intermediate gear 56. A large gear 58 or pinion gear has a smaller gear abutting which engages the intermediate gear 56. A toothed rack 62 is affixed to the side of the clipper by means of brackets 64 to thereby provide for the raising of the forward end of the cutter assembly as pinion gear 58 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction. The movable bands 6d are flat in this embodiment and as the clipper is propelled in a forward direction rotation of the wheel 14 activates gear 54 which in turn activates the gear train and rack to raise the forward edge of the clipper in the manner necessary to provide the Straps 76 and 7 S are afiixed to the inside of the side member 68 to guide the rack 62 in its upward and downward movement with relation to the overall horizontal disposition of the attachment 52 as the clipper is moved in a forward direction. Where only one such mechanism is provided on the side of the clipper a guide arrange ment, referred to generally by the numeral 80, comprises a bar 82 and straps 84 disposed onthe opposing side. 7 Referring next to FIGS. 10 and 11 still another alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Again as in the previous alternative embodiment a singular or dual controlmechanism'may be provided and for purposes of illustration one such mechanism 90 has been illustrated. .Flat movable bands 66 again engage dual wheels such as front wheel 14 and rear Wheel 24 with the wheel 14 having an internal gear 54 attached thereto.

Side members 92 and 94 of the attachment have guide bars 96 and )8 secured thereto in a position adjacent to the rear end of the attachment. Bars 96 and 98 are intro- "duced through brackets 1% and 102 affixed to the side of hair clipper 2.

' A large gear 104 is off-center mounted on an axle 106 f i For the purpose of such embodiments employing the fiat band members the comb 50 may be permanently secured since the'clipper and not the body member is elevated.

Numerous other alterations and modifications may be practiced on the invention. Power-actuating means such as a take-off from the motoroperatingthe clipper cutter tachment of the invention. A still further modification resides in the use of a movable band coupled with a controlled rotatable member Whereby the overall band will be rotated a predetermined distance and automatically stop and/ or reset itself. Such an arrangement is referred to as the timing belt. Another modification resides in the placement of an auxiliary rotatable member on each side of the clipper attachment to provide for the narrowing down of the clipper teeth exposed to cut the hair. In such an embodiment the band would move horizontally, then on a slope and traverse the auxiliary rotatable member and return again to the horizontal position.

While a specific embodiment with several modifications and alterations has been described herein, numerous other such modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such modifications or alterations shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for a hair clipper having a forward cutter assembly and a fiat sole plate, said attachment comprising a body member carrying a plurality of rotatable members in parallel tandem relationship, said body member being removably secured to said clipper adjacent to the sole plate and providing for exposure of the forward edge of the cutter assembly, movable band members linking each tandem array of rotatable members to provide for movement of said body member and hair clipper along the human head, each of said band members defining an array of laterally disposed fin members over a portion thereof, each of said fin members varying successively in height from a first member having a minimal dimension to a last member representing the highest dimension to thereby successively elevate the forward edge of the cutter assembly as the fin members contact the human head.

2. An attachment for a hair clipper according to claim 1 and means for automatically returning the movable band members to a position wherein the first fin members are aligned for initial contact with the human head.

3. An attachment for a hair clipper according to claim 1 wherein each of said rotatable members are provided with a peripherally disposed array of recessed pockets and each of said band members are provided with a plurality of segments on the inwardly disposed surfaces adapted to mate with said pockets.

4. An attachment for a hair clipper having a forward cutter assembly and a fiat sole plate, said attachment comprising a body member carrying a first and second array of paired rotatable members with said first pair disposed adjacent to the cutter assembly and the second pair disposed rearwardly thereof, said body member being removably secured to said clipper adjacent to the sole plate and providing for exposure of the forward edge of the cutter assembly, movable band members linking a rotatable member in each array to provide for movement of said body member and hair clipper along the human head, a gear mounted on the inside surface of at least one rotatable member of said first array, a larger sized gear having an off-center axis rotatably disposed from a side wall of said clipper and cooperating with said first mentioned gear to provide for gradual elevation of the forward edge of the cutter assembly upon rotation of the larger gear.

5. An attachment for a hair clipper according to claim 4 and means for automatically returning the rotatable members and olT-center gear to an initial position wherein the cutter assembly will provide the shortest cut upon contact with the hair on the human head.

6. An attachment for a hair clipper according to claim 4 wherin each of said rotatable members are provided with a peripherally disposed array of recessed pockets and each of said band members are provided with a plurality of segments on the inwardly disposed surfaces adapted to mate with said pockets and a substantially flat outwardly disposed surface.

7. An attachment for a hair clipper according to claim 4 and guide means affixed at an intermediate point along opposing sides of said body member to control placement of the clipper during the elevation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,705,552 3/29 Bauer 30202 1,860,234 5/32 Chulanovski 30202 2,703,450 3/53 Larsen 30202 2,707,328 5/55 Witthofft 30202 2,752,677 7/56 Mullen 30202 2,911,715 11/59 Seifert 30202 3,060,574 10/ 62 Thomas 30-202 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR A HAIR CLIPPER HAVING A FORWARD CUTTER ASSEMBLY AND A FLAT SOLE PLATE, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER CARRYING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE MEMBERS IN PARALLEL TANDEM RELATIONSHIP, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID CLIPPER ADJACENT TO THE SOLE PLATE AND PROVIDING FOR EXPOSURE OF THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE CUTTER ASSEMBLY, MOVABLE BAND MEMBERS LINKING EACH TANDEM ARRAY OF ROTATABLE MEMBERS TO PROVIDE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND HAIR CLIPPER ALONG THE HUMAN HEAD, EACH OF SAID BAND MEMBERS DEFINING AN ARRAY OF LATERALLY DISPOSED FIN MEMBERS OVER A PORTION THEREOF, EACH OF SAID FIN MEMBERS VARYING SUCCESSIVELY IN HEIGHT FROM A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A MINIMAL DIMENSION TO A LAST MEMBER REPRESENTING THE HIGHEST DIMENSION TO THEREBY SUCCESSIVELY ELEVATE THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE CUTTER ASSEMBLY AS THE FIN MEMBERS CONTACT THE HUMAN HEAD. 